Dialogue

Changing of the guards

Edge readers discuss E349 and share their opinions on next-gen

So, it’s almost time to make that once-in-adecade choice of which next-gen console to go for. Having carefully studied all those Not-E3 presentations, I’m left with one conclusion: all I want for Christmas is Cyberpunk 2077.

To be fair to both Sony and Microsoft, it’s rare that any launch titles are killer apps (Nintendo excepted) to the point I couldn’t even tell you what the PS4 or Xbox One day-one lineup was without Googling them. Back in 2013, it wasn’t the lineup that swayed this buyer, it was what each console maker stood for and which one I thought I’d get the best gaming experience from over the next seven years. Despite being an adoring 360 owner, the PS4 got my vote. This time around, it seems a straight choice between ‘more exclusives via Sony studios’ or ‘more gaming for your dollar via Game Pass’. The latter is tempting but if there’s one thing that’s defined this generation for me, it’s been the abundance of titles destroying any hope of getting through my backlog.

Do I want even more games in my to-do list? Like many ageing Edge readers, my gaming time is more precious than my gaming spend. I want to be sure my next console gives me access to the very best content. With Ghost Of Tsushima and The Last Of Us Part II closing the book on this generation’s exclusives, we can look back and see who did better. Truthfully, that contest ended a few years ago and Microsoft hasn’t yet convinced me that all its new studios will get anywhere near trumping Sony’s firstparty titles. And if they do? Well, it seems like I’ll be able to fire up a new xCloud account via my aging laptop and catch up without having to buy an Xbox.

My prediction? By the end of this decade, Sony will have sold more consoles and Microsoft will have made more money. In terms of my personal choice, I’ll just answer the question posed by E338: no, my next console will not be Stadia.

“Like many Edge readers, my gaming time is more precious than my gaming spend”